UCAVs Against Air Threats : Pre-feasibility Study for a Semi-Direct Control System

The constraints of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) utilisation partially reside in the dependency
on wireless communication protocols which may su�er from bandwidth limitation, latency and
frailness. In addition, the geographical separation between operator and UCAV can cause the operators
situational awareness to drastically decrease. These de�ciencies restrict the e�ectiveness of UCAVs
especially in engagements with adversaries. From this, the claim has evolved that UCAVs at present,
are insu�ciently survivable and e�ective in air-to-air combat situations. A potential solution overcoming
the vulnerability of UCAVs in air-to-air combat scenarios is provided by Hans Heerkens and Frank
Tempelman. The solution is being referred to as a Semi-Direct Control System (SDCS). The philosophy
behind the SDCS entails a scenario in which the UCAV operator does not control the UCAV equipped
with the SDCS directly, but instead sends commands with varying intervals. These commands provide
waypoints or goals for the UCAV to achieve. On board \Intelligence" determines how to ful�l the
command it has received from the operator. The SDCS is placed on the verge between direct joystick
control and full autonomous control and aims at eliminating the drawbacks of these "classic" control
options. This thesis handles the development of a demonstrational and developmental platform to act
as a tool to perform research into the feasibility of the SDCS and to demonstrate its functioning. The
prototype (MVP) developed in this thesis, is created from the open source
ight simulator FlightGear,
the programming language Python and by leveraging Ubuntu operating system functionality. Several
functionalities require further development to successfully demonstrate the added value of the SDCS;
such as the \intelligent"
ight controller and the user interface. The current possibilities of commands
that can be given to the UCAV are too limited to successfully perform UCAV related tasks. The MVP
can function as a development platform for further research; The choice of open source software and
the open and accessible architecture of FlightGear has strongly contributed to the MVP being future
proof. In addition, the open source community may provide further functionality. Data link latency
can be simulated with aid of the MVP which allows it to demonstrate the issues related with latency in
direct joystick control of UCAVs and furthermore function as a human factors research platform. The
MVP can be utilised as a research tool that can contribute to knowledge in the �eld of autonomy and
human factors research in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.